Wish you were here

Thursday, April 26, 2007

RED CANDLES

I have to stop by Quiapo Church and light a couple of candles so as to spiritually breathe life and energy to my online photo storage system's main servers which, according to their announcements, are now dying and must be replaced. Thus, for now, some of the pictures with my previous posts cannot be viewed until these servers have been replaced. I apologize to my readers for this great inconvenience.

It is also with great sadness to learn yesterday that my cousin's wife's cancer had made a turn for the very worse. She now has to be confined in the hospital, which supposedly costs the family about a million pesos a month. Besides the grave concern for the mother's deteriorating condition, the entire family is also coping with the family's fast depleting liquid assets.

This incident reminded me of an architect I had become friendly with a couple of years ago. As if suddenly, two of her aunts suffered major illnesses and had to be hospitalized. Unfortunately, he was the only one in the clan that these two relatives could run to for financial assistance. In his frantic attempt to raise the much-needed cash, he coordinated the rush sale of certain pieces of land that they owned down south.

This guy badgered me to buy a piece without acknowledging the fact that I had no interest to set up residence in that particular region of the country; neither would he realize that I don't have that kind of money to begin with. Even if I did, I still had to give it much thought because that area is a hotbed for skirmishes between the military and the local rebels.

Eventually, this man maxed out all his credit cards with cash advances, as well as found himself applying for additional personal bank loans. But worse of all, the incident turned him into one deeply angry middle-aged man. I do understand the dire situation he was dealing with at that time, but it was wrong of him to fault those who didn't buy any piece of land that he was hawking.

Unfortunately, I wasn't spared his wrath, which only reminded me of the old adage, "Circumstances don't make a man; they reveal him."

So, light some red candles I will for health, love and abundance for all.

Today is another scorcher in Manila at 35 degrees Celsius. Keep cool everyone!

Sorry to hear about your relative Eric. Health care is indeed an issue back in Pinas. You only realize it is such a big issue when you live abroad. I was told that health insurance is generally available but terminates upon the person reaching 60 years. If this is true then it's not really serving the purpose.

Hi A! ... unfortunately, my cousin's family is completely resigned to the prognosis that the medical profession has done what it knew how to address such situation, and it can no longer do anything more.

That's just it, Sheilamarie -- God's plan, at the end, will manifest. Although it may be hard for some to acept and understand, later on, it will become apparent that there is indeed a reason for everything.

Yes, it has been in the news recently about the COMELEC being up in arms about health insurance being handed out to voters by certain candidates. To most, this has become a much desired incentive as cold cash to vote for certain candidates.

As they say, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." However, no one ought to take out their frustration on others. But this is what happens when something as frightening as cancer hits home.

I just briefly browsed through your blog site and I like it! You can keep honing your skills in photojournalism by including photos with your well-thought out and -written entries. That was how I basically started it!

Life in Manila as observed by a former New Yorker who with a laptop and camera has reinvented himself as a storyteller. Winner of the PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS: Best Photo Blog in 2007 and three Best Single Post awards in 2008.